Challenge
The Norway Ministry of Justice (MOJ) had a requirement to replace aging Sea King Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters, operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), with a modern aircraft suitable for the demanding Norwegian environment. Managing the selection, design, testing and introduction of complex and highlyintegrated helicopters required:
Operational and Flight Test knowledge on the testing and fielding of modern Maritime/SAR helicopters and their technologies
Systems Engineering and Certification expertise of complex aircraft, mission systems, mission support systems, training simulators and logistic support systems.
Solution
Nova Systems provided a team of experts with extensive experience in helicopter procurement and modernisation projects, which included:
Requirements, Systems Engineering and Test Management personnel for the MOJ Programme Office.
AW101 test pilots, flight test engineers and mission systems specialists, with extensive Maritime and SAR role experience, for independent Development, Acceptance and Operational Test & Evaluation.
Flight Simulation experts for testing and certifying the AW101 Full Flight Simulator and other training devices to Certification Standard – Flight Simulation & Training Devices (CS-FSTD).
Air Engineering experts for Logistics Test and Evaluation to assess and advise on Availability, Reliability, Maintainability and Supportability.
The Nova Systems team supported the down-select to the AW101, helped define the contracted requirement, attended the design reviews, certified the Flight Simulation and Training Devices, conducted systems verification for contract milestones and supported the safe introduction of the capability through extensive Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E).
Outcome
Nova Systems supported MOJ and RNoAF in successful introduction of the complex NAWSARH capability, in accelerated timelines not normally associated with large acquisition programmes.
Key areas of impact were:
Accurate capture of mission requirements in the contract and subsequent design reviews with identification of high-risk and/or novel technologies and proposed risk reduction activities.
Verification through testing and systems engineering processes of contracted or certification requirements.
Validation through OT&E that the delivered system could meet the challenging Norway SAR role, in the availability demanded for such a critical service.
Early identification and management of contract or capability shortfalls, supporting accurate reporting against contracted milestones and effective programme risk management.
Accelerated capability transition from analogue to complex digital aircraft, through application of modernisation experience.